What are Sketchbooks REALLY For?

What are Sketchbooks really for? In this video I give some thoughts about this topic while I fill a sketchbook page. Draw with me!
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●Find me on:
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●Materials:
•Illo sketchbook
•Waterbrush

*note: these are amazon affiliate links, meaning I will receive a small commission from amazon for any purchased products (no additional cost from you)
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●Music:
"Kawai Kitsune"
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0

[anonymcx]

"Use your sketchbook for anything."
Me: Sleeps on sketchbook .
EDIT: Lol actually...

[XabioArts]

THIS is the way sketchbook tours should be. Showing imperfections and experimental art

[banana]

Im always scared to draw in my sketchbook because im afraid of messing up. thank you for showing me its ok to do that and just have fun

[beth]

I’ve just started a new sketchbook and I’m always overwhelmed with all the ideas have- and more so the lack of skill I have to carry out those ideas. I obsess over perfection so much that it demotivates me, I really need to change that! Thanks for this video

[blessmeachoo]

Your sketchbook is your own place to let your imagination run wild. Have fun and experiment with it.

[niatheelf]

I received a comment on my first ever sketchbook tour video a little while ago, and this person said that my video and sketchbook was boring and not colourful enough (because it was just pencil sketches). It was quite upsetting honestly. This is because I had always struggled to finish a sketchbook since the expectations seemed to be that every page has to have a fully finished artwork on it. This sketchbook in the video was the first ever sketchbook I had ever completed, it was the start of my official art journey and the start of my sketchbook enlightenment, where I realised that sketchbooks are meant to be used for anything and everything. Every drawing in it was made in pencil, there was no colour, no finished artworks, it was just pencil sketches for me to figure out my style and learn anatomy. So this comment I received did hurt, but I tried not to get upset. This person seems to be misguided, like many people, on what a sketchbook SHOULD look like. I don't make my sketchbooks for other people, my first sketchbook tour was meant for others to find and see my art, improvement, inspiration and ideas, but I do not cater it to entertain people in that way. It has taken me a long 7 years to bring myself to finish an entire sketchbook, it has taken me a long 7 years to get into the habit of daily drawing, and it has taken me a long 7 years to understand that most sketchbook expectations are unrealistic and that a sketchbook is allowed to be a mess of ideas and practice. I really hope more artists come to learn and understand this, because it can be quite a toxic thing to have such high sketchbook expectations and it can really hinder your art and creativity <3

[ChickenPoofer]

I feel like it's super all over the place when it comes to sketchbooks and their purpose. I see people on the internet constantly berating people for having a nice and clean looking sketchbook while others get annoyed if your sketchbook is messy and unfinished. There is no wrong way to fill a sketchbook.


And let's say some artist tells you that it's bad to have finished illustrations in your sketchbook because they used to do that too and it ended up stressing them out. Well, that's their experience, but not everyone is like that. And if you end up relating to that then it's better for you to have found out yourself through your own experience than to take their word for it and follow their instructions like it's the only correct thing to do. Everyone works differently, and who knows better how you work than you do?

[linlearnsart]

I think skills also has something to do with how a sketchbook ends up looking. Naturally for highly skilled artist (i.e pro artist, art YouTubers etc), they would end up looking much more beautiful and refined compared to beginners, to those who simply draw as a hobby, and generally to the average person.


It took me a really long time to understand that because back then, I would roll my eyes whenever I see Art YouTubers post their sketchbook tours because I know they're not going to be realistic. But they are realistic because their skills allow them to have such beautiful spreads.


Now, I love watching sketchbook tours because they're a source of inspiration for me. <3

[twinkieproduction]

I love how sometimes I can just draw freely and not get the sketch perfect by just not focusing that much about it I can do my best work❤️😁✏️ Thank you Jelart for also helping me not to be afraid to make mistakes and just draw❤️

[---jrpc]

I'm not first
Im not last
But when she posts
I sure do click fast

[MusingsFromTheDen]

When I was doing my Art degree, our sketchbooks were assesed and I found that really stressful, consequently I didn't touch them again for years.

Recently, I started planning a piece and really thinking about it. The fact I'm giving myself permission to make mistakes and knowing nobody will judge me is very liberating. 😊

[ChaosQueenVT]

Yeah I've struggled with trying to make every page a fully illustrated piece and I've been trying to work on not doing that. It's a sketchbook it's meant for sketching. And not every sketch is exactly a GOOD sketch and it's ok because that's part of learning. Love the video as always Jel ❤❤❤❤

[shellydraws]

These videos spark so much joy
Thanks for doing what you do
And thanks for being who you are because you are amazing! Love ya💜

[erikm]

I had a friend that would burn through a sketchbook a month, but it was also her journal and where he recorded personal notes.

[electrichat]

I saw a tip for getting over the fear of ruining your sketchbook in a YouTube video (it might have been yours but I saw it a while ago so I dont really remember). You take a translucent medium and color in a blob of that material. I started doing this and I find that it helps a lot because now I am committed to the page and feel no worry of ruining it.
Also I’d like to say that I love your intros.

[queentechnol]

I feel like messy sketches are the best kind cuz you van see the beauty in it but others cant see it but that dont matter cuz u happy with it

[jemp]

This is some really good advice that I've been trying to implement myself!

Just recently I tried doing textile art with fabric, yarn and felt in mine! I glued a square of denim fabric as a background in my sketchbook then I sewed a leaf and a dragon fly out of felt and then glued it on top of the denim. I'm really happy with how it turned out and I would love to do more things like that in the future.

[islanddryad]

To me sketchbooks are like a safe place. And I totally agree with you, a sketchbook is great for brain dumps, test things out, experiment, notes and just have fun! Fun is the such an important part of art and as long as you're having fun and learning its always worthwhile

[AnaCrisisBlu]

I totally agree with you. I bought a moleskine sketchbook many years ago and I never used it because I thought I needed to fill it with perfect drawings. That stoped me from drawing for a couple of years... then I just realized how stupid I was being and how much I wanted to draw and improve, that I just started doing all sort of things in my sketchbooks and now no one can stop me!! 😊

[etheraea]

I love the podcasty type videos, its great to draw to 😊 its almost to the point where if im just sitting here watching, i feel like i HAVE to draw with you so its really motivating lol.